Ohio Department of
Rehabilitation and Correction

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 28, 1996

STATE NAMES SITE FOR FIRST PRIVATE PRISON

(Columbus) -- Governor George V. Voinovich today announced the city of
Conneaut, in Ashtabula County, as the site of Ohio's first privately operated prison. The
$35 million medium security facility will be built by the state and operated by a private
company. The prison was funded in the 1997-98 capital bill recently signed into law by the
Governor.

"I'm pleased that this new prison will bring 375 recession-proof jobs
to this area," said Governor Voinovich. "Director Wilkinson and I believe the
Conneaut site is an excellent location for Ohio's first privately run prison."

Conneaut first offered the site in 1994 when the state was looking for land on which to
build an administrative maximum security prison. That prison, however, was placed near
Youngstown.

"We are impressed with the site and the enthusiasm of the community to have a
prison in Conneaut," said Department of Rehabilitation and Correction's Director
Reginald Wilkinson. "Both construction jobs and permanent jobs created by the prison
will give a boost to the economy of Conneaut and the surrounding area."

The prison will house approximately 1,000 of Ohio's medium security felons. Construction is scheduled to begin in March of 1997 with
completion late in 1998. As with any proposed prison site, acceptance of the site is
conditional on a clear environmental evaluation.

For further information please contact Joe Andrews, Public Information Officer for the
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, at 614-752-1150.